Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

INTER PARFUMS, INC. REPORTS 2019 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

 

Third Quarter Net Sales up 7.9% and Diluted EPS up 10.0%

 

Raises 2019 Full Year Diluted EPS Guidance to $1.90 and Increases Dividend 20%

 

New York, New York, November 5, 2019: Inter Parfums, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: IPAR) today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Of note, the average dollar/euro exchange rate for the 2019 third quarter is 1.11 compared to 1.16 in the third quarter of 2018, and 1.12 and 1.19 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Third Quarter 2019 Compared to Third Quarter 2018:

 

Net sales were $191.2 million, up 7.9% from $177.2 million; at comparable foreign currency exchange rates, net sales increased 9.7%;

 

Net sales by European based operations rose 4.2% to $143.6 million from $137.8 million;

 

Net sales by U.S. based operations rose 20.7% to $47.6 million from $39.4 million;

 

Gross margin was 59.8% compared to 61.6%;

 

S,G&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 40.7% compared to 41.9%;

 

Operating income increased 4.8% to $36.6 million from $35.0 million;

 

Operating margin was 19.2% compared to 19.7%;

 

The effective income tax rate was 27.4% compared to 28.6%;

 

Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. increased 10.1% to $20.8 million from $18.9 million; and,

 

Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. per diluted share rose 10.0% to $0.66 from $0.60.

 

Thus, through the first nine months of 2019, net sales increased 7.5% to $535.7 million, as compared to $498.3 million for the corresponding period of the prior year. At comparable foreign currency exchange rates, net sales increased 10.2% for the period. Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. rose to $52.1 million, an increase of 13.8% compared to $45.7 million in the same period last year, while net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. per diluted share rose 13.1% to $1.64 from $1.45.

 

Discussing sales by region through the first nine months, Jean Madar, Chairman & CEO of Inter Parfums, Inc. noted, “Our largest market, North America, has been performing exceptionally well with year-to-date sales up 13.9%, and our second largest, Western Europe, exceeded 2018 nine month sales by 4.8%. We are especially pleased by the 8% increase in third quarter sales in Asia, which along with the 7% gain in the second quarter more than offset the decline in the first quarter, bringing 2019 nine month sales slightly ahead of last year. Two other markets where sales are running ahead are the Middle East and Eastern Europe, with sales up 25.3% and 4.2%, respectively, over the first nine months of last year. Only Central and South America, our smallest market, underperformed last year.”

 

 

 

 

Reviewing European operations through the first nine months of 2019, Mr. Madar went on to say, “Our largest brand, Montblanc, continues to perform very well with sales up over 22.0%, thanks in part to the success of our newest scent, Montblanc Explorer, as well as to ongoing strong sales of our well-established Legend collection. As for our second largest brand, Jimmy Choo, the 4.5% increase in fragrance sales were stimulated by the brand extensions unveiled at the end of 2018 and early 2019 along with initial sales of the recently launched men’s scent Jimmy Choo Urban Hero. In 2019, the Coach fragrance portfolio added Floral Blush, a brand extension, and year-to-date sales by our third largest brand are running slightly ahead of 2018 nine month sales, which were up more than 100% from the prior year.”

 

With regard to U.S. operations, Mr. Madar continued, “Once again, the GUESS brand is responsible for most of the top line growth. In just over one year’s time, this brand has become the largest within our U.S. operations, with legacy fragrances dominating the sales mix. However, in the third quarter, we began shipments of 1981 Los Angeles and Seductive Noir, both flankers of established scents, which accelerated brand growth further. The Oscar de La Renta brand has been a star performer this year too with the continued success of the Bella Blanca collection, including this year’s entrant, Bella Rosa. We are also pleased with the performance of the Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister brands, with the former adding Authentic, an entirely new pillar, and the latter building upon its established lines with limited edition programs and the Festival Nite brand extension. Finally, the Anna Sui brand had a comeback third quarter, which more than offset the shortfall in the first half, and thus year-to-date brand sales are ahead of last year.”

 

Highlighting several initiatives underway for 2020, Mr. Madar commented, “For European operations, Montblanc and Coach will each introduce a new women’s scent in the first half, and Jimmy Choo in the second half. In addition to beginning the distribution of two Kate Spade legacy women’s scents in the spring, we are creating an entirely new women’s scent for the brand, which will debut in the fall.”

 

On the subject of U.S. operations, Mr. Madar noted, “Nearly two years in the making, Bella Vita will debut for the GUESS brand domestically in the spring and go globally in the fall. We are confident that GUESS will rank in the top five within all brands in our portfolio in 2020. We are likewise confident that the spring launch of Sky by Anna Sui will be a catalyst for brand sales growth. Our debut of a multi-scent collection for Graff unveils in Harrod’s beginning in March 2020, with selective luxury distribution planned for the fall.”

 

Russell Greenberg, Executive Vice President and CFO of Inter Parfums, Inc., stated, “For European operations, gross profit margin was 62.8% in the current third quarter compared to last year’s 64.9%. The cost of sales of our new Montblanc Explorer product line, which has been a strong performer, is higher than typical, which offset much of the gross margin benefit of the stronger dollar this year. For U.S. operations, gross margin was 51.0% as compared to 49.9% in last year’s third quarter. Generally speaking, our third quarter is our strongest quarter for sales due to holiday season shipments. However, more often than not, our consolidated gross margin contracts in the third quarter due to the large proportion of holiday gift sets in the sales mix.”

 

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Mr. Greenberg continued, “The only material non-operating item was the foreign currency loss aggregating $0.1 million in the current third quarter compared to a $1.1 million loss on foreign currency in the third quarter of 2018.”

 

Mr. Greenberg also pointed out, “We closed the quarter with working capital of $375 million, including approximately $192 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, a working capital ratio of over 3.2 to 1 and only $10.6 million of long-term debt.”

 

Guidance

 

Mr. Greenberg added, “As a result of the strength of the U.S. dollar throughout 2019, as compared to 2018, we are maintaining our 2019 net sales guidance at approximately $712 million. However, based upon improved controls over expenses and greater leverage of our fixed expenses, we are raising our earnings guidance from $1.88 per diluted share to $1.90 per diluted share. Guidance assumes the dollar remains at current levels. As previously reported, we will issue initial 2020 guidance after the market closes on November 20, 2019.”

 

Dividend Increased by 20%

 

The Board of Directors of Inter Parfums, Inc. authorized a 20% increase in the annual dividend to $1.32 per share. The next quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share is payable on January 15, 2020 to shareholders of record on December 31, 2019.

 

Conference Call

 

Management will conduct a conference call to discuss financial results and business developments at 11:00 AM ET on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6749; please call in 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Inter Parfums call. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the live call, please go to www.interparfumsinc.com and click on the Investor Relations section. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived and can be accessed for approximately 90 days at Inter Parfums’ website.

 

Founded in 1982, Inter Parfums, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes prestige perfumes and cosmetics as the exclusive worldwide licensee for Abercrombie & Fitch, Agent Provocateur, Anna Sui, Boucheron, Coach, Dunhill, Graff, GUESS, Hollister, Jimmy Choo, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Spade, Lily Aldridge, Montblanc, Oscar de la Renta, Paul Smith, Repetto, S.T. Dupont and Van Cleef & Arpels. Inter Parfums is also the owner of Lanvin fragrances and the Rochas brand. Through its global distribution network, the Company’s products are sold in over 120 countries.

 

Statements in this release which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” or similar words. You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because actual events or results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Inter Parfums’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and the reports Inter Parfums files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Inter Parfums does not intend to and undertakes no duty to update the information contained in this press release.

 

Contact at Inter Parfums, Inc. -or- Investor Relations Counsel
Russell Greenberg, Exec. VP & CFO   The Equity Group Inc.
(212) 983-2640   Fred Buonocore (212) 836-9607/fbuonocore@equityny.com
rgreenberg@interparfumsinc.com   Linda Latman (212) 836-9609/llatman@equityny.com
www.interparfumsinc.com   www.theequitygroup.com

 

See Accompanying Tables

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
                 
Net sales  $191,227   $177,213   $535,712   $498,347 
                     
Cost of sales   76,790    68,066    204,459    187,917 
                     
Gross margin   114,437    109,147    331,253    310,430 
                     
Selling, general and administrative expenses   77,793    74,169    238,860    226,286 
                     
Income from operations   36,644    34,978    92,393    84,144 
                     
Other expenses (income):                    
Interest expense   384    523    1,214    1,553 
(Gain) loss on foreign currency   121    1,109    818    (185)
Interest income   (562)   (847)   (2,886)   (3,321)
                     
    (57)   785    (854)   (1,953)
                     
Income before income taxes   36,701    34,193    93,247    86,097 
                     
Income taxes   10,043    9,767    26,012    25,550 
                     
Net income   26,658    24,426    67,235    60,547 
                     
Less:  Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest   5,810    5,488    15,176    14,801 
                     

Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc.

  $20,848   $18,938   $52,059   $45,746 
                     
Earnings per share:                    
                     
Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. common shareholders:                    
Basic  $0.66   $0.60   $1.66   $1.46 
Diluted  $0.66   $0.60   $1.64   $1.45 
                     
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:                    
Basic   31,452    31,326    31,444    31,297 
Diluted   31,676    31,587    31,681    31,502 
                     
Dividends declared per share  $0.28   $0.21   $0.83   $0.63 

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

   September 30,
2019
   December 31,
2018
 
ASSETS        
         
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents  $138,457   $193,136 
Short-term investments   53,244    67,870 
Accounts receivable, net   173,839    136,420 
Inventories   167,114    160,978 
Receivables, other   1,669    2,112 
Other current assets   8,544    8,076 
Income taxes receivable   481    810 
Total current assets   543,348    569,402 
           
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net   11,235    9,839 
Right-of-use assets, net   29,509    -- 
Trademarks, licenses and other intangible assets, net   197,323    204,325 
Deferred tax assets   12,838    9,299 
           
Other assets   6,175    6,302 
           
Total assets  $800,428   $799,167 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Current portion of long-term debt  $17,449   $23,155 
Current portion of lease liabilities   5,877    -- 
Accounts payable – trade   44,477    58,328 
Accrued expenses   81,179    92,468 
Income taxes payable   10,272    4,396 
Dividends payable   8,652    8,630 
           
Total current liabilities   167,906    186,977 
           
Long–term debt, less current portion   10,606    22,906 
           
Lease liabilities, less current portion   25,221    -- 
Deferred tax liability   3,275    3,538 
Equity:          
Inter Parfums, Inc. shareholders’ equity:          
Preferred stock, $.001 par; authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued   --    -- 
Common stock, $.001 par; authorized 100,000,000 shares; outstanding 31,464,568 and 31,382,127 shares at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively   31    31 
Additional paid-in capital   68,636    69,970 
Retained earnings   476,477    448,731 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (50,408)   (33,650)
Treasury stock, at cost, 9,864,805 shares at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018   (37,475)   (37,475)
           
Total Inter Parfums, Inc. shareholders’ equity   457,261    447,607 
Noncontrolling interest   136,159    138,139 
Total equity   593,420    585,746 
           
Total liabilities and equity  $800,428   $799,167 

 

 

 

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